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Join us, dear Patrons, for the 2019 “All for One” Gala Celebration and aid Landmark in its quest to bring the Holy Grail of affordable quality Musical Theatre to Long Beach!

Lovingly ripped off from the classic 1975 film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Spamalot retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table in a highly irreverent and hilarious parody.

Long Beach Landmark Theatre Company celebrates its 4th season with a Gala Celebration and Musical Staged Reading of Spamalot, featuring a cast of 30 talented Landmark performers and intimate orchestration in a concert-style setting.

Let us treat you like royalty with an evening in King Arthur’s court, featuring copious drink, bountiful feasting and loosening of thy purse strings in fealty to the gods of charity and theatre.

$75 is the bounty for an evening of indulgent pleasure, featuring a Spamalot themed party, a Musical Staged Reading of Monty Python’s Spamalot, and VIP seating for thy rambunctious posterior!

Or, if you’re feeling more pauper than prince these days, you can attend the performance of Spamalot only for $20.

Experience the joys and heartbreaks of bare-knuckled competition as an eclectic group of determined entrants vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing “ding” that signals a spelling mistake. As each contestant steps to the microphone to confront increasingly difficult words, they candidly disclose hilarious and touching anecdotes from their home lives. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is fast-paced, slightly irreverent and touching, with a fresh and vibrant score. Winner of the Tony and Drama Desk awards for Best Book, this show has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. You won’t want to miss this U-N-F-O-R-G-E-T-T-A-B-L-E evening of pure fun.

WASHINGTON ― Despite the government shutdown, the Internal Revenue Service today confirmed that it will process tax returns beginning January 28, 2019 and provide refunds to taxpayers as scheduled.

“We are committed to ensuring that taxpayers receive their refunds notwithstanding the government shutdown. I appreciate the hard work of the employees and their commitment to the taxpayers during this period,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig.

Congress directed the payment of all tax refunds through a permanent, indefinite appropriation (31 U.S.C. 1324), and the IRS has consistently been of the view that it has authority to pay refunds despite a lapse in annual appropriations. Although in 2011 the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directed the IRS not to pay refunds during a lapse, OMB has reviewed the relevant law at Treasury’s request and concluded that IRS may pay tax refunds during a lapse.

The IRS will be recalling a significant portion of its workforce, currently furloughed as part of the government shutdown, to work. Additional details for the IRS filing season will be included in an updated FY2019 Lapsed Appropriations Contingency Plan to be released publicly in the coming days.

“IRS employees have been hard at work over the past year to implement the biggest tax law changes the nation has seen in more than 30 years,” said Rettig.

As in past years, the IRS will begin accepting and processing individual tax returns once the filing season begins. For taxpayers who usually file early in the year and have all of the needed documentation, there is no need to wait to file. They should file when they are ready to submit a complete and accurate tax return.

The filing deadline to submit 2018 tax returns is Monday, April 15, 2019 for most taxpayers.

The new tax laws may affect your taxes drastically. If you are like us and don’t like the kind of surprises that involve having to pay out money, make sure your withholding is sufficient to cover your taxes.

The IRS Withholding Calculator is the best tool for this. It is surprisingly easy to use, as well. You will need information from your previous year’s tax return, along with your most current pay stub.

You can do a checkup at any time, and the calculator will advise you on what to withhold in order to get caught up by the end of the year. This is very useful in case your situation changes.

You can find the calculator at https://www.irs.gov/W4App. You can also find this link on our Resources page, along with a Form W-4 that you can download and fill out.

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to avoiding tax scams. Here’s what taxpayers need to know to determine whether an encounter — in person, over the phone or by email — is an impostor or an actual IRS employee:

The IRS Does Not:

Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method, such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer.

Demand taxpayers pay taxes without the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed.

Threaten to bring in local police, immigration officers or other law enforcement to have someone arrested for not paying.

Normally initiate contact with taxpayers through mail delivered by the United States Postal Service.

Present official identification when visiting a taxpayer. Taxpayers have the right to see these credentials, and – if they would like – the representative will provide them with a dedicated IRS phone number for verifying the information and confirming their identity.

Call or visit a home or business under certain circumstances. This includes when a taxpayer has an overdue tax bill, to secure a delinquent tax return or a delinquent employment tax payment, or to tour a business as part of an audit or criminal investigation. Even then, taxpayers will generally receive several letters from the IRS in the mail first.

Assign certain cases to private debt collectors, but only after written notice is given to the taxpayer and their appointed representative.

Offer several payment options. Payment by check should be payable to the U.S. Treasury and sent directly to the IRS, not a private collection agency.

The Long Beach Landmark Theatre Company’s latest production is coming next month.

Closer than Ever is a nonstop musical exploration of everyday struggles in the modern world. Topics ranging from unrequited adoration to aging, heartbreak, and even Muzak are tackled with resounding sincerity and precisely-placed hilarity. Each song is a unique story told by a new character, taking audiences into the minds and hearts of contemporary people facing everyday, completely relatable challenges.

Heather, Melody and Tracy are performing in October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard. This moving and hauntingly beautiful theatrical experience was composed by Curtis Heard using the poetry of Leslea Newman. Catch the last performance on Sunday, October 25, 2015 at the Art Theater of Long Beach. For more information click on the poster above or visit firstchurchlb.org/octobermourning